COPPER BEECH – Fagus sylvatica f. purpurea: [ 1 ]
A cultivated form of the common beech. Grows to over 30m but has shallow roots so can be blown over. Deep purple leaves develop in spring and turn coppery in autumn. Fruits develop as beech nuts called mast and are contained in a prickly case. Beech leaves are eaten by caterpillars and the mast is enjoyed by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. The bark is often home to fungi and lichen. Beech wood is hard and used for furniture. It was traditionally used to smoke herring.
A cultivated form of the common beech. Grows to over 30m but has shallow roots so can be blown over. Deep purple leaves develop in spring and turn coppery in autumn. Fruits develop as beech nuts called mast and are contained in a prickly case. Beech leaves are eaten by caterpillars and the mast is enjoyed by mice, voles, squirrels and birds. The bark is often home to fungi and lichen. Beech wood is hard and used for furniture. It was traditionally used to smoke herring.
